4 Ways to Add Music to iPod With/Without iTunes

The Apple iPod has always been an extremely popular choice when it comes to favourite music players. With over 300 million units sold since the product first hit the market shelves back in 2001, the iPod has come a long, long way since the original click-wheel featured cube which was replaced by fully-optimised touchscreens and smartphone-quality cameras.

Regardless, at its core, and despite its many features, the iPod is still used today as a universal music player; the perfect place to discover all your favourite chart classics and one-hit wonders.

However, whether the version of your iPod is no longer supported, or you encounter the common problem of managing an Apple account, getting new music onto your iPod can pose a problem.

But luckily, there are multiple ways in which you can do that. Today, we’re going to explore four of the most common and most effective ways to import your music onto your iPod device, so you never have to be without it again.

Part 1 - Adding Music to Your iPod Using iTunes

Firstly, the most common technique for adding music to your iPod is Apple’s own music management platform; iTunes. Whether you’ve recently purchased an iPod, new or old, or simply want to update your current library, here’s how;

Step #1 - Download & Install iTunes

Firstly, head to the iTunes website to download the iTunes software. In the top right-hand corner, click the ‘Download’ button. You’ll then be able to choose your operating system and the ‘bit’ version that’s compatible with your computer.

iTunes will then start downloading. Once completed, double-click the downloaded package to install iTunes onto your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete this process.

Step #2 - Adding Music to iTunes from Your Computer

Next, open iTunes and sign into your account. To add music from your computer, click ‘File’ and then ‘Add File/Folder to Library’.

This opens a new window where you can navigate your folders to find the music that you want to add. When you’ve selected the files or folders you want to add, simply click ‘Select Folder/File” and your music will be imported into iTunes.

Step #3 - Connecting Your iPod

Close iTunes, connect your iPod device to your computer using a USB cable and then reopen iTunes.

When your device is connected, it will be displayed in the left-hand menu on iTunes. From here, make your way through your music library, clicking on the tick boxes next to the songs that you want to transfer to your device.

When you’ve finished selecting which tracks you want to add, just drag the files to the iPod option and release. This will start the transfer process, the progress of which you can follow in the central window.

Once completed, disconnect your iPod and you’ll be ready to go.

Part 2 - Adding Previously Purchased Songs to Your iPod

Sometimes, you won’t have songs that you’ve ripped from a CD, or downloaded from the internet, but have instead purchased from the iTunes library/store. This requires another method of adding them to your iPod. For this, we’ll assume iTunes is already installed on your computer.

Step #1 - Finding Previous Purchases

Connect your iPod to your computer using a USB cable and open iTunes. Then, use the navigation menu at the top of the window and click ‘Store’, or use the Store option on the left-hand menu.

On the store page, you’ll see an option titled ‘Purchased’. Click here, and you’ll be able to see all the previously purchased content you’re bought on the iTunes store.

Step #2 - Adding Previous Purchases to your iPod

Go down this Purchased list and use the tick boxes to select which tracks you would like to add to your iPod library. Alternatively, you can use the tick box at the top of the menu to select all tracks or move them one by one.

Once you’ve finished making your selection, drag the highlighted files over the ‘iPod’ option in the left-hand menu and release. The copying process will begin and, once completed, safely disconnect your iPod and your music will be saved.

Part 3 - Transferring Music to Your iPod from the iTunes Store

If you’ve not yet purchased a song or album and you’re thinking of adding it to your iTunes library to enjoy, you might want to add it from the store and then listen to it on your iPod device. Here’s how.

Step #1 - Finding Your Track

Connect your iPod to your computer using a USB cable and open iTunes. Head over to the ‘Store’ option and feel free to browse until you find the music that you want to buy and listen to.

Once you’ve found something you like, go ahead and purchase it. This will start the download process which, once completed, means you’ll have access to that music track or album.

Step #2 - Transferring Purchased Music to Your iPod

Next, you’ll want to locate the files you’ve just downloaded with iTunes. You can do this by clicking the ‘Music’ option and searching for the music you’ve bought. Alternatively, you can click the ‘Purchased’ option, and then follow the second transfer method detailed above.

If you’re searching your library, find the music you’ve downloaded, use the tick boxes to select and highlight those tracks and then drag them over your iPod option in the menu on the left. Once the transfer is complete, disconnect your iPod, and you’ll be able to listen to your music.

Part 4 - Adding Music to Your iPod Without Using iTunes

The final method you can try is ideal if you have yet to install iTunes or you’ve had problems with using it. After all, the software is not for everyone.

However, this shouldn’t stop you being able to use an iPod or have access to the music that you want. For this method, we’re going use the leading data transfer software known as “dr.fone - Transfer (iOS)”.

Download the software. Then, double-click the software to install it onto your computer. During installation, follow the on-screen instructions in the installation wizard. You may need to restart your computer during this step.

Once installed, open the dr.fone software and connect your iPod using the USB cable. You may see an Apple notification asking you to accept your computer as a trusted source which you’ll need to accept.

Step #2 - Transferring Your Music Files

Next, click the ‘Transfer’ option on the main menu of dr.fone. This will start the data transfer wizard that will take a couple of minutes to complete. On the first screen, you’ll be able to choose whether you want to transfer data to your computer from your device or visa versa. Select the “Transfer iTunes Media to Device” option.

Then, use the iTunes-like navigation menu to select ‘Music’, and you’ll see all the music files you have stored on your device. Click the ‘Add Music’ button and then choose whether you want to add individual files or a folder to your device.

Navigate the menu to find the files or folders that you want to transfer to your device, highlight them with your mouse and click the ‘OK’ button to confirm.

Once you’ve clicked ‘OK’, the transfer will begin, and there’ll be a progress window showing you the remaining duration. When it’s completed, you’ll be able to disconnect your device and listen to your music at home, on-the-go or wherever you like!